Kansas Rowing Finishes in Seventh Place at Conference USA Championships

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OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The University of Kansas rowing team captured two first-place finishes, en route to claiming seventh place at the 2014 Conference USA (C-USA) Championship Saturday at Melton Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The Jayhawks began the day with a fifth-place finish (7:03.9) in the first heat of the First Varsity Eight race. Members of the boat included seniors Caitlyn Decker, Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins, Elizabeth Scherer, Alexandra Torquemada, juniors Claudijah Lever, Brooke Thuston, sophomore Maggie Duncan, freshman Maddie Irelan and coxswain Kenzie Obrochta.

“I thought we raced well as a team today,” head coach Rob Catloth said. “The freshmen (Novice Eight) won their race, and the Varsity Four was close to winning their race. There was a lot of parity in the Conference USA this season, but I am pleased with the team’s performance today.”

The next race for Kansas saw the Second Varsity Eight finish third overall (6:58.60), almost 10 seconds faster than the fourth-place boat from Old Dominion University. Rowing for KU were senior coxswain Catherine Clements, Kaylee Sextro, Emma Umbarger, juniors Julia Alvey, Erin Brogan, Allie Griffin, Jessica Jacob, sophomore Alexa Fowlkes and freshman Emma O’Neill.

Kansas continued with a hot start in the Varsity Four race, but could not hold off Tulsa as the Jayhawks finished second overall (7:39.50). The boat was comprised of seniors Kelsie Fiss, Carly Iverson, coxswain Abbey Lozenski, Jessica Miller and sophomore Tessa Scott.

Next up on the schedule was the Open Four race where Kansas (A) placed second overall (8:00.62) in the second heat. Rowing for KU were senior Meghan Cahill, juniors Angie Flores-Rodriguez, Jennifer Hartzler, coxswain Sarah Lasini and sophomore Jackie Adamle.

The third heat of the Open Four race witnessed Kansas (B) earn a convincing victory (7:48.30) by more than 13 seconds over the next-closest boat. Members of the winning boat included junior Kristen Byrd, sophomores Casey Kelly, coxswain Mary Slattery, freshmen Kate Cropp and Kylee Dewey.

Preliminary racing concluded with the Novice Eight race, where the Jayhawk freshmen shined. They claimed victory (7:06.80) by 14 seconds over the Kansas State Wildcats. Powering the boat for Kansas were freshmen Bailey Brandon, Danielle Gibson, Christina Granzow, Madison Hovis, Lexie Lanphere, Olivia Loney, coxswain Mallory Miller, Allison Schaaf and Katherine Young.

KU qualified five out of six total boats for the Grand Finals, with the First Varsity Eight participating in the Petite Finals, claiming fourth overall.

The Grand Finals began for KU with a fifth-place finish (6:48.60) in the Second Varsity Eight. Members of the boat included senior coxswain Catherine Clements, Kaylee Sextro, Emma Umbarger, juniors Julia Alvey, Erin Brogan, Allie Griffin, Jessica Jacob, sophomore Alexa Fowlkes and freshman Emma O’Neill.

The Varsity Four continued the racing by placing fourth (7:32.41) overall – ahead of Big 12 rival Texas. The boat consisted of seniors Kelsie Fiss, Carly Iverson, coxswain Abbey Lozenski, Jessica Miller and sophomore Tessa Scott.

The C-USA Championship concluded with KU (B) claiming fourth place (7:52.74) and KU (A) placing fifth (7:59.08), respectively, in the Open Four Grand Finals. Rowing for KU (B) were junior Kristen Byrd, sophomores Casey Kelly, coxswain Mary Slattery, freshmen Kate Cropp and Kylee Dewey.

The post-racing awards ceremony saw three Jayhawks honored for their contributions this season. Torquemada was named to the All-Conference First Team to cap her senior season, while fellow seniors Clements and Scherer were recognized as members of the C-USA All-Academic First Team.

The Jayhawks will celebrate their season Sunday night at the team awards banquet. The NCAA Division I Rowing Selection Committee will unveil the championship field on NCAA.com on May 20 at 5 p.m. Eleven teams are selected through automatic qualification based on conference results. An additional eleven at-large teams are selected by the NCAA Rowing Committee. The NCAA Championship will begin May 29 and will run through June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.
 
Final Standings
1.       Oklahoma – 62
2.       Tennessee – 58
3.       Kansas State – 56
4.       Tulsa – 46
5.       Texas – 44
6.       Sacramento State – 30
7.       Kansas – 28
8.       Old Dominion – 27
9.       San Diego State – 19
10.    West Virginia – 17
11.    Alabama – 9
 
Kansas Boatings
First Varsity Eight – 5th (7:03.90)
Kenzie Obrochta – Coxswain
Caitlyn Decker
Elizabeth Scherer
Alexandra Torquemada
Brooke Thuston
Claudijah Lever
Tearson ‘Jade’ Lambkins
Maggie Duncan
Maddie Irelan
 
Second Varsity Eight – 3rd (6:58.60)
Catherine Clements – Coxswain
Julia Alvey
Erin Brogan
Jessica Jacob
Kaylee Sextro
Alexa Fowlkes
Emma O’Neill
Allie Griffin
Emma Umbarger
 
Varsity Four – 2nd (7:39.50)
Abbey Lozenski – Coxswain
Tessa Scott
Carly Iverson
Kelsie Fiss
Jessica Miller
 
Open Four (A) – 2nd (8:00.62)
Sarah Lasini – Coxswain
Jennifer Hartzler
Meghan Cahill
Jackie Adamle
Angie Flores-Rodriguez

Open Four (B) – 1st (7:48.30)
Mary Slattery – Coxswain
Kristen Byrd
Kylee Dewey
Kate Cropp
Casey Kelly
 
Novice Eight – 1st (7:06.80)
Mallory Miller – Coxswain
Christina Granzow
Lexie Lanphere
Olivia Loney
Allison Schaaf
Katherine Young
Madison Hovis
Bailey Brandon
Danielle Gibson
 
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